Written Answers Monday 8 September 2008

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the total Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments was paid to crofters and farmers in the Highlands and Islands in each year for which information is available.

Richard Lochhead: The percentages are as follows:

  2001: 38.75

  2002: 37.98

  2003: 39.79

  2004: 40

  2005: 39.98

  2006: 40.38

  2007: 40.24.

Agriculture

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the total Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance Scheme payments was paid to crofters and farmers in the Highlands and Islands in each year for which information is available.

Richard Lochhead: The percentages are as follows:

  1994: 38.28

  1995: 37.79

  1996: 37.42

  1997: 35.46

  1998: 37.07

  1999: 37.21

  2000: 37.

Agriculture

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the full 2008 Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payments to farmers and crofters will be paid in 2008 or 2009 and on what date.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate’s intention is to begin making LFASS 2008 payments early in 2009. It is hoped that the majority of eligible applicants will have been paid, in full, by the end of January

Alcohol Misuse

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14958 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, whether it will publish the number of cases of alcohol poisoning under codes ICD6, ICD7 and ICD8.

Shona Robison: Limited information on cases of alcohol poisoning, classified under ICD8 codes, is available for 1968 to 1980, and no information is held on cases prior to 1968 (ICD6 and ICD7 codes). That data which is available is below normal quality standards and would not be comparable to the information provided in response to question S3W-14958. For these reasons, we have no plans to make this information available.

Alcohol Misuse

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died of alcohol poisoning in each year since 1950.

Shona Robison: Information on the number of deaths from alcohol poisoning in each year since 1950 is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46491).

  However, it is important to note that information is based on the causes of death coded using the international classification of diseases (ICD). However, due to changes in ICD categories over time, the figures are not always consistent. For most years it is not possible to distinguish between non-accidental poisoning by alcohol and by other substances.

Bridges

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been in average peak period journey times between Fife and Edinburgh and vice versa following the removal of the Forth Road Bridge tolls.

Stewart Stevenson: The new traffic management arrangements at the Forth Road Bridge came into effect at the end of May 2008. It is therefore too early to make any realistic assessment of the journey time impacts of the abolition of tolls. We will continue to work with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority to monitor traffic flows across the bridge, and to see how any impacts arising directly from the abolition of tolls might be addressed.

Carers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will strengthen support for parents and carers in each community, including through universal health visitor provision.

Shona Robison: In line with the requirements set out in Health for All Children , health visitors determine the nature and frequency of contacts with children and families beyond the core programme on the basis of each individual family’s needs. Additional support, as agreed with the family, can be put in place as necessary.

  The early years framework, developed jointly by the Scottish Government and COSLA, will be published later this year and will cover the issue of building the capacity of parents, families and communities to contribute to giving children the best start in life.

  We fully recognise the vital contribution of unpaid carers as key partners in the delivery of care and are already taking a number of steps to help make sure that carers can access the support they need to care effectively, while looking after their own health. Future priorities will be set out in a new carers strategy, based on a review of progress against the recommendations of the Care 21 report, The Future of Unpaid Care In Scotland.

Central Heating Programme

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which household types that would have qualified for free central heating previously are not now having their applications processed under new instructions issued following the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s announcement on 22 May 2008.

Stewart Maxwell: Households currently not having their applications processed under the priority arrangements announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 22 May 2008 are:

  Under-80s with a systems that has broken down, who are not in receipt of the guaranteed element of pension credit;

  Those aged 60 to 79 with a partial or inefficient system, who are in receipt of the guaranteed element of pension credit, and

  Over-80s with a partial or inefficient system.

  All householders who were eligible for the central heating programme before the Cabinet Secretary’s announcement of 22 May 2008 remain eligible under the regulations.

Class Sizes

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that reductions in class sizes to a maximum of 18 in P1 to P3 can be achieved without the introduction of legislation.

Fiona Hyslop: Progress is being made to reduce class sizes to 18 in P1 to P3 without legislation. We signed a concordat with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities last year under which local government undertook to reduce primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18 as quickly as possible. Local government also agreed to make year on year progress towards the delivery of the class size reduction policy. We have always acknowledged that progress on class size reduction would vary across local authorities depending on local circumstances and needs. We will continue to monitor the situation as to whether legislation would be required to cover this and the last administration’s policies.

Concessionary Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with bus operators over the last six months regarding the continued provision of free bus travel for elderly and disabled people.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers met representatives from the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) on 11 March 2008 and this meeting included discussion on free bus travel for elderly and disabled people. A steering group and working groups have been set up to review free bus travel for elderly and disabled people. As part of this process, officials and CPT have met a number of times to discuss a variety of issues relating to the scheme.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the costs of setting up Creative Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is currently considering a paper from the joint board on potential transition costs. These costs will be made public when they are submitted to the Parliament as part of the Financial Memorandum of the Public Services Reform Bill. It would be inappropriate for them to be made public before the Parliament has had the opportunity to scrutinise them.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports about costs of setting up Creative Scotland were provided to it prior to 18 June 2008.

Linda Fabiani: Scottish Government officials have been working closely with the joint board to progress plans and transition costs for establishing Creative Scotland prior to 18 June 2008. Ministers received on 22 August 2008 the joint board’s report on potential transition costs. We will work with the joint board to finalise these, which will form the basis for that section of the Public Services Reform Bill’s Financial Memorandum dealing with Creative Scotland.

Cycling

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budgeted spend on cycling projects in 2008-09 and the projected spend on such projects in 2009-10 and 2010-11 is, calculated on the same basis as the figures given for 2003-04 to 2007-08 in the answer to question S3W-13861 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 June 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13862 on 18 June 2008.

  Allocations for cycling projects from the sustainable and active travel budget line have been made for 2008-09 only. This year £6.58 million will be allocated to cycling projects. In addition, £9 million will be awarded to local authorities for cycling, walking and safer streets projects. It is up to local authorities to spend accordingly on local priorities.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Economy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual increase was in percentage terms of Scotland’s GDP, using the approximate measure set out in the response to question S3W-14008 by John Swinney on 18 June 2008, for the last five years for which figures are available and what the current estimate of percentage GDP growth.

John Swinney: Estimates of GDP at current market prices for Scotland are presented in the following table, along with the annual percentage growth. It is important to note that percentage changes in current price measures of GDP include the impact of rising prices and does not capture GDP growth in real terms.

  Table 1: Approximate GDP at Current Market Prices for Scotland 2002-06

  

Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


GDP at Market Prices (£ million) 1
84,235 
89,278 
93,804 
98,337 
104,234 


Annual Growth in Estimate of GDP at Current Market Prices (%)
5.6
6.0
5.1
4.8
6.0



  Source: Office for National Statistics and Scottish Government.

  Note: 1. Market price GDP for Scotland is estimated based on the UK Gross Value Added to GDP ratio. Although, National Statistics outputs have been used in the production of these estimates, the estimates themselves are not.

  The following table shows growth, in real terms, in Scotland for the period 2002-07. The latest published growth figure for the Scottish economy, comparing the four quarters to 2008 quarter 1 against the previous four quarters, indicates that the Scottish economy grew by 2.1 per cent over that period.

  Table 2: GDP at constant basic prices for Scotland 2002-07

  

Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007


Annual Growth (%)
0.8
2.0
2.6
1.5
2.6
2.0



  Source: Scottish Government.

Equine Industry

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are made on horses travelling between Scotland and Northern Ireland to ensure that they have been issued with equine passports.

Richard Lochhead: Animal Health carry out random checks on all livestock moving from Scotland to Northern Ireland through the port at Stranraer. When these involve horses, transporters are asked to produce the passports. On occasions when the passport has not accompanied the horse, the enforcement authority for the consigning address has been contacted to confirm the presence of a passport for the animal concerned.

External Relations

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timetable it has established for planning Scotland Week 2009.

Linda Fabiani: Planning for Scotland Week 2009 has already begun.

External Relations

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be made available for Scotland Week 2009.

Linda Fabiani: Scotland Week 2008 delivered the most ambitious programme of events ever undertaken by Scottish ministers at a significantly reduced cost compared with previous Tartan Weeks. We expect to achieve equally good value for money in 2009.

External Relations

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any changes to the geographical focus of Scotland Week 2009.

Linda Fabiani: In 2008 we successfully extended the reach of the Scotland Week programme further than ever before. Although the programme for 2009 is still in the planning stage, our aim is to continue to explore new opportunities and locations to use Scotland Week as a major platform for promoting Scotland in the US and Canada.

External Relations

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that there will be a stronger, more integrated cultural programme for Scotland Week 2009.

Linda Fabiani: Promoting Scottish cultural excellence is a year round activity which the Scottish Government will continue to support throughout North America. Events such as Homecoming Scotland and Scotland Week provide additional opportunities to showcase examples of Scottish culture and the government is working with VisitScotland, EventScotland, the National Performing Companies and others to make the best of these opportunities.

External Relations

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to further promote Scotland’s creative industries during Scotland Week 2009.

Linda Fabiani: Scottish Development International is responsible for the promotion of all Scottish business interests, including the creative industries, throughout the year. The Scottish Government will work with SDI, to look for appropriate opportunities to promote the creative industries during Scotland Week 2009.

External Relations

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its plan for engagement with North America.

Linda Fabiani: The recently published International Framework and the Government Economic Strategy set the strategic context within which the Scottish Government now expects to take forward all its international activities. In that context the government is currently reviewing its engagement in Canada and the USA and will bring forward any new plans in due course.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14775 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2008, how much additional funding to cover the increase in fuel costs has been given to NorthLink Ferries Ltd and CalMac Ferries Ltd since the signing of the relevant public service contracts.

Stewart Stevenson: We have paid additional fuel supplements totalling £2.5 million to NorthLink Ferries Ltd since the Northern Isles contract started in July 2006 and £3.4 million to CalMac Ferries Ltd since the Clyde and Hebrides contract started in October 2007.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the STAG appraisal of the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry service has been completed; whether the service has been found to be economically viable, and what the benefit to cost ratio is for re-establishing the service.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Government officials, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Executive, are currently in the process of considering a draft report prepared by the consultants appointed to undertake this appraisal work. When the final report becomes available, ministers in Scotland and Northern Ireland will consider the costs and benefits associated with the proposed service, and will reach a decision about the way forward.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in seeking an alternative operator for the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service.

Stewart Stevenson: We are working very closely with Forth Ports to identify an alternative commercial operator for the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service. There have been constructive discussions with potential operators. These discussions are continuing as we look to find a commercial solution.

Fisheries

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to develop the marketing and promotion of Scottish scallops.

Richard Lochhead: As part of the Scottish Fisheries Council, a commercial strategy group for the Scottish scallop sector was convened on 8 May 2008. This group will consider issues such as regulation, stock levels and the impact of scallop fishing practices on the marine environment as well as enhancing the reputation and competitiveness of Scottish scallops in a global market which will be reflected in the resultant strategy. In order to assist the group, Seafood Scotland have been commissioned to undertake a SWOT analysis of the Scottish scallop sector.

  The work of the group is being taken forward through thematic sub-groups working on specific issues. This includes a marketing and promotion sub group which will aim to develop the marketing and promotion of Scottish scallops within the UK and overseas.

Flooding

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) steps it is taking and (b) funding it is providing to map and address pluvial flooding.

Richard Lochhead: The forthcoming Flooding Bill will make provision for all types of flooding to be mapped by 2013 as required by the EC Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks. Funding to map and address these types of flooding will be considered at the next spending review.

Fuel Prices

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the reintroduction of an LPG grant scheme to help reduce the burden of escalating fuel costs.

Stewart Stevenson: The previous LPG grant scheme was introduced as a means of reducing CO 2 emissions from cars. The scheme was set up to contribute towards the cost of converting vehicles to enable the use of LPG, at a time when LPG offered clear CO 2 reductions in comparison with conventional fuel. However, the scheme ceased in 2006 and we now know that as a result of improvements in the efficiency of conventional engine technology, LPG no longer offers CO 2 reduction benefits on the same scale.

  While the price of LPG may seem attractive in light of increases in the cost of fuel, LPG is a less efficient fuel and LPG vehicles use more litres of fuel per kilometre and depending on a range of other factors e.g. driving style, may offer little benefit. This is reflected in the fact that no manufacturer now produces LPG vehicles. In terms of conversion, estimated costs range from c£1,800 to £3,400, depending on engine size and the type of tanks fitted. It is therefore unlikely that the benefits of a new LPG grant scheme would outweigh the cost and in addition, any such scheme would be subject to state aid rules.

  However, individual drivers can make use of a zero-cost means of increasing the fuel efficiency of their vehicles. Eco-driving techniques can demonstrate savings of around 15% per year. Advice on this can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website:

  http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today/smarter_driving.

  Finally, Scottish Government remains concerned about recent rise in fuel prices and recognises the impact this has across the economy and on individuals. As a result, we have held discussions with the energy supply companies urging them to give the maximum assistance to those in fuel poverty and called for a delay in the planned rise in fuel duty in October, which has since been announced. We have also announced additional help such as the development of an action plan for the fishing industry to adapt to rising fuel prices, and will continue to act where necessary.

Fuel Prices

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken within its existing powers to bring fuel prices on Scottish islands closer to levels on the mainland.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is concerned about the impact of rising fuel costs on rural communities and on businesses where fuel represent a significant cost burden and on the wider economy.

  Ministers have written to the UK Government seeking action to try to minimise the impact of the rises. In particular we have asked the UK Government to introduce differential fuel duty rates for rural areas, and pressed for the introduction of a fuel duty regulator to protect against high fuel prices. We have also introduced a Road Equivalent Tariff pilot study in October 2008 to investigate the introduction of affordable ferry services that will facilitate the social and economic wellbeing of the communities served.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain the timescale for submission of the report by the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: On 18 June 2008, I announced in the Parliament an independent review of procedures in place at the Vale of Leven Hospital over the period December 2007 to 1 June 2008, in response to information that 55 patients had developed Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD), 18 of whom had died.

  The Independent Review Team (IRT) met and was briefed on 26 June 2008 with a remit to report by 31 July 2008. The IRT requested and reviewed all relevant documentation regarding cases of CDAD at the Vale of Leven Hospital over the six month time-frame and the circumstances contributing to these cases. The IRT visited the Vale of Leven Hospital on five occasions and interviewed a wide range of staff from the hospital and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. An open invitation was made through the local press for patients and their families to submit written and oral evidence to the review and meetings were held with representatives from 10 families.

  Full details of the process followed by the IRT are set out in the report, Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008, which was published on 7 August 2008.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the "further analysis of the death rate" outlined on page 12 of Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008 .

Nicola Sturgeon: This information will be provided in the Outbreak Control Team report which is due to be submitted to me by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde around the end of September 2008. The content of that report will, in the first instance, be shared with the area Procurator Fiscal.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took in relation to Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital following (a) advice received from Health Protection Scotland on 21 May 2008, (b) contact from the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter on 6 June 2008 and (c) the meeting of the Outbreak Control Team on 10 June 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the timeline of events in my statement to the Parliament on 18 June 2008 and to the answer to question S3W-14337 on 15 July 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  In response to the recommendations arising from the publication of the Health Protection Scotland Report on Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease Cases and Mortality in all Acute Hospitals in Scotland from December 2007 - May 2008 and the independent review Report on the Clostridium difficile Outbreaks at Vale of Leven Hospital, I announced on 7 August 2008 that a new National HAI Action Plan and Action Plan for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had been produced. Both plans are being led by our multi-agency HAI Task Force. The national action plan is available from the HAI Task Force website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/19529/2005/actionplans.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the recommendations arising from Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008 will be implemented.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are in the process of implementing the recommendations arising from the Independent Review of Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital.  I understand that the board has already undertaken a review of the infection control structure, management and leadership arrangements.

  To be confident that all of the actions are taken forward and have the desired outcomes, I have already asked, as recommended by the independent review team, that they review the actions taken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in six months time. The report will be made public.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the designations of the people listed as being interviewed by the independent review team in Annex A of Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital from December 2007 to June 2008 .

Nicola Sturgeon: We have no plans to do so. The structure and content of the report was determined by the independent review team.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the draft report of the independent review team on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital was first discussed by any official or special adviser.

Nicola Sturgeon: My officials were briefed by the Independent Review Team (IRT) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) on 31 July 2008. They received Draft Reports from the IRT and HPS on 1 August 2008. The formal report was received on 4 August 2008 and published on 7 August 2008.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the people affected by Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital had the 027 strain.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the people who died of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital had the 027 strain.

Nicola Sturgeon: Of the 55 patients at the Vale of Leven Hospital, 18 patients died either as a direct result of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) or had C. difficile recorded on the death certificate as contributory factor to their death. Further analysis of the death rate is required and is on-going as part of a separate exercise being undertaken by the board and Health Protection Scotland. Full details of the outbreak will be produced by the Outbreak Control Team in due course.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop a national policy on faecal management in light of the findings in the independent review team report on Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: National policy on faecal management is included in Health Protection Scotland model policies on Standard Infection Control Precautions and Transmission Based Precautions. Guidance is also included in the NHSScotland Code of Practice for the Local Management of Hygiene and Healthcare Associated Infection.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes were built in (a) Clydebank and (b) Bearsden and Milngavie in 2007-08 using Housing Association Grant.

Stewart Maxwell: In Clydebank 36 units of low-cost home ownership, which were given approval in February 2007, were under construction during 2007-08, and were completed in May 2008. In Milngavie another project of 26 units of amenity housing for older people was approved in March 2007 and is due to complete early in 2009.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Affordable Housing Investment programme grant has been allocated to (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) East Dunbartonshire in each year since 2002-03 and how much of these amounts each year was allocated to (i) Clydebank and (ii) Bearsden and Milngavie.

Stewart Maxwell: The amount of Affordable Housing Investment Grant allocated to the areas requested since 2003-04 is as follows:

  

 
2003-04 
(£ Million)
2004-05 
  (£ Million)
2005-06 
(£ Million)
2006-07 
  (£ Million)
2007-08 
(£ Million)
2008-09 
(£ Million)


West Dunbartonshire
8.623
7.332
8.954
10.000
10.350
7.835


East Dunbartonshire
1.484
1.238
3.785
3.000
5.800
5.386



  It should be noted that records prior to 2003-04 are not kept at local authority level.

  At the beginning of each financial year the Affordable Housing Investment Programme is allocated at local authority level only and not to sub areas. Therefore no information is available for the second part of this question.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its targets for rented and affordable housing to be built in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and its announcement of the total amount of Housing Association Grant available are consistent with each other and, if so, how reductions in the per unit grant can be achieved given current construction cost trends.

Stewart Maxwell: A record level of resources of over £1.5 billion has been committed from the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) over the next three years. This is sufficient to deliver the units planned if efficiencies are achieved. Efficiencies in the level of grant per unit are anticipated as a consequence of the changes recently made to the Housing Association Grant (HAG) financial assumptions. In the longer term the implementation of the proposed Housing Investment Reform project should generate further efficiencies. It should be noted that the target unit approvals and actual spend in any given financial year do not correlate directly as units approved in any given year may only spend a proportion of the grant allocation in that year with the remainder being carried forward to subsequent years.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13282 by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 June 2008, what evidence it has that registered social landlords apply tenancy conditions strictly and take action where necessary to put a stop to antisocial behaviour.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13282 by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 June 2008, what evidence it has that there is sufficient flexibility within the statutory framework to allow registered social landlords to apply tenancy conditions strictly and take action where necessary to stop antisocial behaviour, including eviction, suspension of applicants from housing allocation and other measures.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13282 by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 June 2008, what practical steps it has taken to address the difficulties registered social landlords have due to different statutory requirements and policies in preventing or stopping antisocial behaviour through the strict application of tenancy conditions or other action, including eviction and suspension of applicants from housing allocation.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is the responsibility of individual registered social landlords (RSLs) to ensure they strictly apply tenancy conditions and where necessary take action to stop antisocial behaviour.

  We do not collect information about the application of tenancy conditions by RSLs. However, evidence from Scottish Government research, Use of Anti-social Behaviour Orders in Scotland, published in September 2008, suggests that RSLs are using a range of measures to address antisocial behaviour, including antisocial behaviour orders, antisocial behaviour contracts, down-grading of tenancies to a short Scottish secure tenancy and eviction. This research is available on the Scottish Government’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/19160705/0.

  To support social landlords to appropriately manage tenancies we have provided social landlords with model tenancy agreements for the Scottish secure tenancy and the short Scottish secure tenancy. These include a section entitled "Respect for Others" which sets out detailed behavioural conditions which tenants must meet. They also make clear that landlords can bring actions for eviction against tenants who have breached their tenancy conditions.

  In addition, RSLs are regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator within a framework of nationally agreed performance standards, including standards relating to the management of antisocial behaviour. An RSL’s performance against these standards, and its responsiveness to its tenants, may form part of an inspection by the regulator.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13317 by Stewart Maxwell on 3 June 2008, why the cost of building an affordable home for low-cost home ownership is nearly £10,000 more than the cost of building an affordable home for rent.

Stewart Maxwell: The cost of building new homes for rent or low cost home ownership is largely dependent on local factors such as land price, building costs, site conditions etc. The figures quoted are average costs per unit across Scotland and do not take into account house sizes or local factors. It should also be noted that the grant input to all low-cost home ownership initiatives within the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers is substantially lower than to housing for rent.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13317 by Stewart Maxwell on 3 June 2008, whether the figures given for building affordable homes for rent and low-cost ownership, uprated for inflation and multiplied by the relevant number of homes for rent and low-cost ownership the Scottish Government claims will be built using public funds in 2008-09, equals the amount of funding the Scottish Government is making available in the current financial year and, if not, how these figures match up.

Stewart Maxwell: There is no direct correlation in any given financial year between the cost of units approved and spend. Expenditure in any given year will pay for a range of costs associated with projects approved in previous years, projects approved in the current year and costs to acquire sites for development in future years. Targets for approvals and completions for 2008-09 are achievable with the funds available.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have prudential borrowing capacity to build social housing and how many homes each could deliver through prudential borrowing in the next 10 years.

Stewart Maxwell: Since 2004-05 it has been for local authorities to determine their prudential borrowing capacity. In making this determination a local authority is required to have regard to The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

  The number of houses that a local authority is prepared to fund through prudential borrowing will depend on its assessment of the affordability of building new houses and its assessment of the need for new council houses relative to other spending priorities.

  The £25 million announced by the Scottish Government is intended to encourage local authorities with prudential borrowing potential to consider using it to fund new council houses.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have been marked no proceedings or have resulted in a written warning from the Procurator Fiscal in each of the last four years, broken down by type of case.

Frank Mulholland QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database records details of all the charges against each accused in terms of the specific common law or statutory offence that is alleged to have been committed. The information is not aggregated into broader categories of offence and it is not therefore possible to provide a breakdown by type of case.

  Statistical information on case disposals is available on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s website www.copfs.gov.uk/About/corporate-info/Caseproclast5

  The following table shows the number of cases where no action was taken or where the case was dealt with by the issue of a warning letter in each of the last four years.

  Case Disposals 2004-08

  

 
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Total reports received
323,016
339,415
329,949
320,227


No Proceedings
60,706
48,929
44,229
44,224


Warning Letter
32,150
32,652
26,565
24,505

Local Government Finance

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available, following the signing of single outcome agreements, about the actual amounts that will be spent by local authorities during 2008-09 on projects.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table outlines how much funding local authorities have been allocated for cycling, walking and safer streets (CWSS) projects in 2008-09. The signing of the single outcome agreements has had no impact on the level of funding allocation for CWSS projects.

  

Local Authority
2008-09 
(£ Million)


Aberdeen City
0.365 


Aberdeenshire
0.412


Angus
0.191


Argyll and Bute
0.163


Clackmannanshire
0.086


Dumfries and Galloway
0.262


Dundee City
0.249


East Ayrshire
0.212


East Dunbartonshire
0.191


East Lothian
0.170


East Renfrewshire
0.165


Edinburgh, City of
0.818


Eilean Siar
0.045


Falkirk
0.267


Fife
0.639


Glasgow City
1.021


Highland
0.374


Inverclyde
0.146


Midlothian
0.149


Moray
0.154


North Ayrshire
0.241


North Lanarkshire
0.579


Orkney
0.034


Perth and Kinross
0.247


Renfrewshire
0.304


Scottish Borders
0.196


Shetland
0.040


South Ayrshire
0.199


South Lanarkshire
0.544


Stirling
0.160


West Dunbartonshire
0.164


West Lothian
0.303


Total
9.090

Local Government Finance

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether cycling, walking and safer streets have been identified as priorities or whether targets have been set for cycling, walking and safer streets in any of the single outcome agreements between local authorities and the Scottish Government and, if so, in which ones.

Stewart Stevenson: Single outcome agreements (SOAs) for 2008-09 have been agreed with all 32 councils and should all now be publicly available.

  SOAs reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. As councils were responsible for producing the SOAs and are responsible for the delivery of local services, questions regarding the content of individual SOAs should be directed to them in the first instance.

Maternity Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pregnant women in West Dunbartonshire have been offered a choice between having their baby in the Community Maternity Unit in the Vale of Leven Hospital or in the Queen Mother’s Hospital in Glasgow and which option was chosen by these mothers, expressed also in percentage terms, in each year since 2003.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

  Women who fulfil the criteria for a Community Maternity Unit (CMU) birth are offered a choice of the Vale or the CMU in the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH). All women are offered the choice of delivery in the obstetric unit in RAH or Queen Mother’s Hospital.

NHS Boards

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since the board area was increased in April 2006 to integrate (a) management structures and (b) infection control systems.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since the formation of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in April 2006, the board has looked closely at how to best integrate services across the whole board area, including management and infection control systems, to bring about benefits such as unified procedures and structures, improved communications, and the sharing of best practice.

  This work has culminated in the board merging its Clyde acute operational and administrative functions into the board’s Acute Services Division on 1 July 2008, and the establishment of new infection control arrangements across the whole board area, also on 1 July 2008.

NHS Boards

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how patient care will be improved as a result of direct elections to NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: The responses to the consultation that informed the development of the Health Boards (Membership and Elections) (Scotland) Bill revealed a widespread concern about the need to re-establish public confidence in the decision-making of health boards.

  The government believes that direct elections will help to address these concerns, providing an opportunity for local people and their representatives to both influence, and take accountability for, decisions made in respect of the local health care services that they fund as taxpayers. This is fully consistent with the government’s commitment to create a "co-owned", mutual NHS.

NHS Hospitals

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing is aware that the high dependency unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital had closed in the last 12 months.

Nicola Sturgeon: The High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the Vale of Leven Hospital closed for four hours on 27 October 2007, and for 24 hours between 13 and 14 November 2007 due to no patients being in the unit. This is normal practice where no patient admissions are anticipated.

  The board announced in November 2007 that the hospital’s two HDU beds would be integrated into the Coronary Care Unit to support both service delivery and clinical safety. The joint Critical Care Unit, as it is now known, has not been closed at any time since the merger in December 2007.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive through what funding mechanism it will fund the Borders railway project.

Stewart Stevenson: As stated in Parliament on 5 March 2008, the Borders Railway will be funded via open procurement seeking private funding through the Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) model. In addition Scottish Borders, Midlothian and City of Edinburgh councils have agreed to contribute a total of £30 million to the project.

Rail Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether prices of rail passenger tickets for single and return journeys at peak periods on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High route are higher or lower than prices on rail routes between other cities in the United Kingdom a similar distance apart and whether reducing the level of fares on this route was considered during discussions over the extension of the rail franchise.

Stewart Stevenson: Prices of rail passenger tickets for single and return journeys at peak periods on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High route are lower than the majority of prices on rail routes between other cities in the United Kingdom a similar distance apart.

  No discussion took place on the fare level of any specific rail route as part of the overall discussions over the extension of the ScotRail rail franchise. However, the Franchise Amendment Agreement contains an initiative to create pilot fares schemes designed to encourage modal shift to train. These schemes will also help to evaluate the impact of interventions in fares policy.

Road Safety

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to deter motorists from speeding on the M74.

The Executive has supplied the following corrected answer:

Kenny MacAskill: Under the Scottish Safety Camera Programme six mobile camera sites, five within Dumfries and Galloway and one within Strathclyde, have been successfully established on the M74 and the A74 (M). Since the cameras have been deployed the average speed of the traffic at the camera sites in Dumfries and Galloway has dropped from an average of 78 to 83mph down to an average of 70 to 72mph. In Strathclyde the average speed of traffic at the camera site has dropped from 69mph down to 66mph.

  In addition to the deployment of safety cameras, the police constantly patrol the full length of the M74 and the A74 (M) in both marked and unmarked vehicles to enforce a wide range of traffic legislation, including those laws relating to speeding.

Road Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of average speed cameras on the A9 has been considered in order to reduce the incidence of traffic accidents, given the positive outcomes in terms of improved road safety following their introduction on the A77 since June 2005 and on similar roads in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is developing a strategy to improve road safety over the next 10 years and has set up a Panel of Experts to advise on possible measures. It is due to publish a report in the autumn.

  The potential to introduce more average speed cameras, and at what trunk road locations, will be informed by an assessment of the A77 average speed camera system (SPECS) and of any identified speeding problem where accidents occur. The effectiveness of the A77 average speed camera system will be fully assessed once three full years of data is available. Accident statistics for the A77 for the three year period from July 2005 to July 2008 are expected to be published in October 2008.

Road Safety Act 2006

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to implement the Road Safety Act 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: A number of the provisions of the Road Safety Act 2006 are already in force. On 18 August 2008, sections 20 and 21 and section 30 (to the extent not already implemented) of the Road Safety Act 2006 were commenced.

  Sections 20, 21 and 30 of the Road Safety Act 2006 insert Section 2B (creating a new offence of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving), Section 3ZB (creating a new offence of causing death by driving while unlicensed, uninsured or disqualified) and Section 3ZA (which defines the meaning of driving without due care and attention for the purposes of the offence of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving) respectively into the Road Traffic Act 1988.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) policy on these new offences is available on the COPFS website http://www.copfs.gov.uk/Publications/Driving.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an up-to-date assessment of the costs of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Stewart Stevenson: An up-to-date assessment of the costs of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will be carried out as part of the procurement process.

Scottish Public Service Ombudsman

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were referred to the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman about local authorities in 2007-08 and how this compares to the previous year.

John Swinney: Information published in the annual report of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for 2007-08 shows that 2,418 complaints were received about local government in that year. The 2006-07 annual report shows that 2,543 complaints were received in 2006-07. The figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are not directly comparable because of changes in logging procedures. Both annual reports can be found on the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’s website at http://www.spso.org.uk/ .

Speed Limits

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities are able to introduce 20mph speed limits on traffic distributor roads.

Stewart Stevenson: Local authorities have power to introduce 20mph speed limits on any road for which they are the roads authority, where that level of speed limit is considered to be appropriate.

Traffic

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment has been made of the impact on greenhouse gas emissions of the removal of tolls on the Erskine bridge and how the results compare with any estimate based on traffic modelling before the tolls were removed.

Stewart Stevenson: No such assessment has been made.

Traffic Lights

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish CCTV facilities for all pedestrian crossings to monitor the behaviour of motorists.

Stewart Stevenson: The installation of CCTV at pedestrian crossings for traffic monitoring would be a matter for traffic authorities to consider. There are no plans to require this facility at these locations.

Traffic Lights

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there should be CCTV provision at all pedestrian crossings to facilitate clear and factual records for use in any subsequent court case.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to provide CCTV at all pedestrian crossings nor has there been demand from the Crown Office for this facility.

Traffic Lights

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change traffic lights from the current system of red, amber and green lights to red and green only, with a countdown in seconds for each colour.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the UK Government which has confirmed that it has no plans to change the current system of red, amber and green traffic signals. This system has been in place for many years, is widely understood and has a good level of compliance.

  The UK Government has no plans to introduce countdown timers at traffic lights.

Traffic Lights

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what European countries have implemented the two-colour system of traffic lights.

Stewart Stevenson: We are unaware of any European country that uses two colour traffic signals.

Transport

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct an assessment of the resilience of the transport networks to heavy or prolonged rainfall and what the timescale and funding will be for such an assessment.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that the transport networks are of a sufficient standard to withstand heavy or prolonged rainfall to prevent further disruption from flooding.

Stewart Stevenson: In June 2005, the Scottish Government published the Scottish Road Network Climate Change Study . This examined the potential impact of future predicted climate conditions on the operation of the Scottish road network. Rainfall was one of the six broad categories of weather considered in the study. Transport Scotland is implementing the recommendations from the study, including changes to the design standard for surface drainage systems, which has now been modified to account for a 20% increase in rainfall intensity.

  As the owner of Great Britain’s rail infrastructure, Network Rail is responsible for ensuring the continued resilience of the Scottish rail network.

Transport

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide sufficient revenue to fund the increasing maintenance required in the transport networks to cope with heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland will continue to ensure that suitable adaptation measures are built into its annual trunk road maintenance programme within the constraints of the current Scottish Government financial settlement.

  As the owner of Great Britain’s rail infrastructure, Network Rail is responsible for ensuring the continued resilience of the Scottish rail network.